Free Resources for
Students and Teachers of English as a Foreign Language in China - by Paul Sparks
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ORAL ENGLISH: Using American and British English
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American |
British |
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airplane |
aeroplane |
AM |
Medium Wave |
antenna |
aerial |
apartment |
flat |
apartment house/building |
block of flats |
appetizer |
starter, hors d'oeuvre |
area code |
dialling code |
asphalt |
Tarmac |
attached home |
semi-detached house |
attorney |
lawyer |
auto, automobile |
car |
automated teller machine (ATM) |
cashpoint |
baby carriage |
pram |
backpack/backbag |
rucksack |
back-up light |
reversing light |
baked potato |
jacket potato |
baking soda |
bicarbonate of soda |
Band-Aid |
sticking plaster |
bandshell |
bandstand |
bangs |
fringe |
bankroll |
foot the bill |
bar |
pub, public house |
barrette |
hair slide |
baseboard |
skirting board |
bathrobe |
dressing gown |
bathroom |
toilet |
bathtub |
bath |
battle stations |
action stations |
beater |
banger |
beer |
lager |
bell pepper |
red pepper, green pepper |
beltway, loop |
ring road, circular road |
bill |
note |
billfold |
wallet |
billion |
thousand million |
binder clip |
bulldog clip |
biscuit |
scone |
blacktop |
Tarmac |
blinders |
blinkers |
blinkers |
indicators |
blood sausage |
black pudding |
bobby pin |
hair grip, Kirby grip |
boneyard |
scrapyard, junkyard |
bouillon cube |
stock cube |
boxcar |
no equivalent |
braid |
plait |
breakdown lane |
hard shoulder |
brewpub |
no equivalent |
Brit |
Briton |
brown bag lunch |
packed lunch |
bun |
bap, roll |
bureau |
chest of drawers |
burlap |
hessian |
bus |
coach |
busy signal |
engaged tone |
caboose |
guard's van |
cadaver |
corpse |
cafeteria |
canteen |
candy |
sweet |
canine cookie |
dog biscuit |
car |
carriage |
caravan |
convoy |
carnival |
travelling fair or circus |
carousel |
merry-go-round |
cart |
trolley |
casket |
coffin |
cattle guard |
cattle grid |
cell phone, cellular phone |
mobile phone |
check |
cheque |
checkers |
draughts |
checking account |
current account |
chesterfield |
settee |
chicory |
endive |
chief executive officer (CEO) |
managing director (MD) |
chifforobe |
gentleman's wardrobe |
chips |
crisps |
city |
town |
closet |
fitted wardrobe |
closing out |
closing down |
clothes pin |
clothes peg |
coach |
economy |
collect call |
reverse charge call |
comfort station |
public convenience, toilet |
comforter |
quilt, eiderdown |
concert master |
leading or first violin, leader |
condominium, condo |
block of flats |
conductor |
guard |
consignment |
second hand goods |
cookie |
biscuit (sweet) |
cooler |
cool box |
cord |
lead, flex |
corn |
sweet corn, maize, corn-on-the-cob |
corn starch |
corn flour |
cotton batting obs |
cotton wool |
cotton candy |
candy floss |
cotton swab |
cotton bud |
couch |
settee |
county |
|
cow pie |
cow pat |
crackers |
biscuits |
crane fly |
daddy-long-legs |
crawl space |
under floor void |
crazy bone |
funny bone |
cream of wheat |
semolina |
creek |
stream, brook |
crosswalk |
pedestrian crossing |
cuffs |
turn-ups |
cupcake |
fairy cake |
custom made |
bespoke, made to measure |
davenport |
bed-settee |
daylight saving(s) time |
(British) summer time |
dead end |
cul-de-sac |
deck |
pack |
deck |
no equivalent |
deductible |
excess |
deep freeze |
freezer |
delivery tanker |
tanker |
delivery truck |
van |
denatured alcohol |
methylated spirits, meths |
desk clerk |
receptionist |
dessert |
pudding |
detour |
diversion |
diaper |
nappy |
differ... than |
differ... from |
dime |
no equivalent |
diner |
café |
discount |
concession |
district attorney |
public prosecutor |
divided highway |
dual carriageway |
docent |
curator, guide |
doctor's office |
surgery |
double whole note |
breve |
downtown |
town centre |
(the) draft |
conscription |
drapes |
net curtains |
dresser |
chest of drawers, dressing table |
driver's license US, driver's permit Can |
driving licence |
drug store |
pharmacy, chemists |
druggist |
chemist, pharmacist |
dry goods store |
drapery, haberdashery |
dumpster |
skip |
duplex (house) |
semi-detached house |
editorial |
leader |
eggplant |
aubergine |
eighth note |
quaver |
electrician's tape |
insulating tape |
elevator |
lift |
England |
United Kingdom |
entree |
main course |
eraser |
rubber |
exit |
junction |
expressway |
main road |
Exxon |
Esso |
eyeglasses |
spectacles, specs |
fair |
show |
fall |
autumn |
fanny pack |
bum bag |
faucet |
tap |
fava bean |
broad bean |
feminine napkin |
sanitary towel |
fender |
wing |
mudguard |
|
field |
pitch |
fire hall |
fire station |
firehouse |
fire station |
fire starter |
fire lighter |
fire truck |
fire engine or fire appliance |
first floor |
ground floor |
First Nations |
Native Americans, Indians |
flagstaff |
flag pole |
flashlight |
torch |
flatware |
cutlery |
float home obs |
house boat |
float plane |
sea plane |
floor lamp |
standard lamp |
football |
American football |
four way (stop) |
cross roads |
freeway |
motorway |
french fries |
chips |
freshman |
no equivalent |
funeral director |
undertaker |
furnace |
central heating boiler |
galoshes |
Wellington boots, wellies |
garbage, trash |
rubbish, refuse |
garbage can |
dustbin |
garter belt |
suspender |
gas |
petrol |
gear shift, gear stick |
gear lever |
generator |
dynamo |
girl scouts US |
girl guides |
goaltender |
goalkeeper |
goatsucker |
nightjar |
golden raisin US |
sultana |
goose bumps |
goose pimples |
gotten |
got |
grade |
gradient (slope) |
grade crossing |
level crossing |
graham crackers |
digestive biscuits |
grease pencil |
chinagraph pencil |
ground |
earth |
ground |
minced |
GST |
VAT |
gumboot |
wellington |
gurney |
no equivalent |
half note |
minim |
hardware store |
ironmonger |
hat check girl |
cloakroom attendant |
headlamp |
headlight |
heavy cream |
double cream |
hex |
cast a spell on |
Hidabed, hideaway |
bed-settee |
high school |
no equivalent |
highway |
main road |
hoagie |
roll |
hobo |
tramp |
hog |
pig |
hood |
bonnet |
horny |
randy |
(house numbering) |
|
house-trailer |
caravan |
hutch |
chest, Welsh dresser |
icebox |
refrigerator |
ice chest |
cool box |
incorporated |
limited |
industrial park |
industrial estate |
installment plan |
hire purchase |
instant replay |
action replay |
intersection |
cross roads |
intermission |
interval |
interstate |
main road, major road, trunk road |
intimate apparel |
underwear |
Inuit |
Eskimo |
janitor |
caretaker |
jack |
socket |
jelly |
No equivalent |
jelly roll |
Swiss roll |
Jell-o |
jelly |
john |
toilet |
jump rope |
skipping rope |
jumper |
short dress |
kerb side |
near side |
kerosene |
paraffin |
kindergarten |
nursery |
Kleenex |
tissues |
knickers/knickerbockers |
plus fours |
last name |
surname |
lawyer, advocate, attorney |
lawyer, solicitor, barrister |
lead |
cable |
legal holiday |
bank holiday |
lemonade |
real lemonade, squash, cordial |
license plate / license tag |
number plate |
Lifesavers |
Polo |
lima bean |
butter bean |
line |
queue |
line cord |
mains lead |
liquor |
spirits |
liquor store |
off licence |
lobby |
foyer |
locker room |
changing room |
long distance |
trunk call |
loon |
great northern diver |
loonie |
no equivalent |
lorry |
hand cart, dolly |
lost and found |
lost property |
lot |
plot |
love seat |
settee |
low fat milk |
semi skimmed milk |
luggage rack |
roof rack |
lumber |
timber |
M & M |
Smarties |
|
post |
mail man |
postman |
mail slot |
letter box |
main street |
high street |
maize |
sweet corn |
mall |
shopping centre |
Mason jar |
Kilner jar |
mass transit |
public transport |
Master Card |
Access |
master of ceremonies |
compere |
mean |
bad tempered |
meat grinder |
mincer |
median (strip) |
central reservation |
military time |
24 hour clock |
mimosa |
Buck's Fizz |
mobile home |
caravan |
mortician |
undertaker |
movies |
films |
movie theater |
cinema |
moving company |
removal company |
moving van |
pantechnicon, removal van |
muffler |
silencer |
mutual fund |
unit trust |
napkin |
serviette |
nickel |
no equivalent |
nightstick |
truncheon |
notions |
haberdashery |
number sign |
hash mark |
oatmeal |
porridge |
offense players |
forwards |
oh |
nil |
oil pan |
sump |
on-ramp, off-ramp |
sliproad |
operating room |
operating theatre |
orchestra seat |
stalls |
outhouse |
privy |
overalls |
dungarees |
outlet |
socket |
overpass |
flyover |
pacifier |
dummy |
paddle |
bat |
panhandler * |
beggar |
pantihose/pantyhose |
tights |
pants |
trousers |
paraffin |
wax |
parka |
anorak |
parkade Can |
multi-storey car park |
parking garage/ramp |
multi-storey car park |
parking lot |
car park |
parking stall |
parking bay |
pass |
overtake |
pastor |
minister, vicar, rector |
paved shoulder |
hard shoulder |
pavement |
paved area |
penitentiary |
prison |
penny |
cent |
period |
full stop |
personalty |
personal property |
petroleum |
crude oil |
phonograph |
record player, gramophone |
pitcher |
jug |
plastic wrap |
clingfilm |
pocketbook obs |
wallet, purse |
polliwog |
tadpole |
pool |
snooker |
popsicle |
lollipop |
pork rinds |
pork scratchings |
postal code |
post code |
postal outlet |
sub post office |
potato chips |
crisps |
pot holders |
oven gloves |
pound sign, number sign |
hash sign |
powdered sugar US |
icing sugar |
pre-natal |
ante-natal |
preserves |
jam, marmalade |
pressure |
pressurise |
private school |
public school |
proctor |
invigilator |
professor |
lecturer |
prong |
pin |
public school |
state school |
pullout, pulloff |
lay by |
pump |
court shoe |
purse |
handbag |
quarter |
no equivalent |
quarter note |
crotchet |
Quonset hut |
Nissen hut |
radio |
wireless |
Radio Shack |
Tandy |
railroad |
railway |
rain check |
no equivalent |
rappel |
abseil |
Realtor |
estate agent |
Realty |
estate agency |
recess |
break |
reforestation |
reafforestation |
rent |
hire |
restroom |
toilet |
résumé |
curriculum vitae (CV) |
retirement fund |
superannuation |
(American) Revolutionary War |
American War of Independence |
roast |
joint |
robe |
dressing gown |
roll |
tube |
rooming house |
lodging house |
rotary |
roundabout |
round trip |
return |
row house |
terrace house |
rubber boots |
wellingtons |
rubbers |
condoms |
rubbing alcohol |
surgical spirit |
run |
ladder |
run for office |
stand for election |
runners |
trainers |
running shoes |
trainers |
rutabaga |
swede |
sack lunch |
packed lunch |
sales clerk |
shop assistant |
sales tax |
VAT |
sand box |
sand pit |
sanitary napkin |
sanitary towel |
savings and loan trust |
building society |
sawbuck |
sawhorse |
scale |
weighbridge |
scallion |
spring onion |
schedule |
timetable |
scheme |
plot |
Scotch Tape |
Sellotape |
second floor |
first floor |
sedan |
saloon |
seeing eye dog |
guide dog |
semi-trailer |
articulated lorry |
server |
waiter or waitress |
senior |
pensioner |
shade |
blind |
sherbet |
sorbet |
shoestring |
bootlace, shoelace |
shrimp |
prawn |
sidewalk |
pavement or footpath |
silverware |
cutlery |
sixteenth note |
semi-quaver |
ski mask |
balaclava |
skivvies |
underpants & vest |
sled |
sledge |
slingshot |
catapult |
smoked herring |
kipper |
snaps |
press studs |
sneakers |
trainers |
snowpack |
lying snow |
snow peas |
mangetout |
soccer |
football |
social security number |
national insurance number |
soda |
soft drink |
soother |
dummy |
sophomore |
no equivalent |
spool |
reel |
spur line |
branch line |
squash |
vegetable marrow |
standings |
table, league table |
none |
special school |
station wagon |
estate car |
statutory holiday |
bank holiday |
stemware |
wineglasses |
stick shift |
gear lever |
stocking stuffer |
stocking filler |
store |
shop |
stove |
cooker, oven |
straight |
neat |
streetcar |
tram |
strip mall |
parade of shops |
stroller |
push chair, baby buggy |
stub |
counterfoil |
subway |
underground railway |
suspenders |
braces |
sweeper |
vaccuum cleaner |
switch |
points |
switchback |
hairpin bend |
switchblade knife |
flick knife |
switcher |
shunter |
switchyard |
marshalling yard |
telephone pole |
telegraph pole |
teleprompter |
autocue |
teller |
cashier |
texas gate |
cattle grid |
thread |
cotton |
thumbtack |
drawing pin |
tic-tac-toe |
noughts and crosses |
tie |
sleeper |
tie |
draw |
toonie |
no equivalent |
townhouse |
terrace house |
tractor-trailer |
articulated lorry or "artic" |
traffic circle US |
roundabout |
trail |
track, footpath |
trailer, trailer home |
caravan |
train station |
railway station |
transit |
public transport |
transmission tower |
electricity pylon |
trash |
rubbish |
trash can |
dustbin |
trolley |
|
truck |
lorry |
truck stop |
transport café |
trunk |
boot |
tub |
bath |
tube |
valve |
turn signals |
indicators |
turtle neck |
polo neck |
tuxedo |
dinner jacket |
two-four |
no equivalent |
two weeks |
fortnight |
under basement |
cellar |
undershirt |
vest |
unemployment compensation/insurance |
dole, unemployment pay/benefit |
union suit |
long johns, combinations |
utility pole |
telegraph pole |
vacation |
holiday |
valance |
pelmet |
vacationer |
holidaymaker |
vest |
waistcoat |
veterans' day |
remembrance day |
wall to wall (carpet) |
fitted carpet |
wallet |
purse |
wash cloth |
(face) flannel |
washroom |
toilet |
water heater |
immersion heater, geyser |
weed wacker, weed eater |
strimmer |
welfare |
benefit |
wheat bread |
brown bread |
whiskey |
whisky |
whole note |
semi-breve |
windshield |
windscreen |
wire |
telegram |
wrench |
spanner |
yard |
garden |
zee |
zed |
zip code |
post code |
zucchini |
courgette |
911 |
999 |
© Copyright by Paul Sparks, 2001-2008